Former World Champion Andy Lee has told Off The Ball that he'd like to see Gennadiy Golovkin (GGG) hang up his gloves, instead of chasing a trilogy clash with Canelo Alvarez.
In the early hours of Saturday morning, he was pushed all the way by Sergiy Derevyanchenko in New York.
The Kazakhstani ultimately scored a victory by unanimous decision and picked up the vacant IBF world middleweight championship belt in Madison Square Garden.
Signs
Andy warned that this showing was almost as bad as a defeat for the 37 year-old:
"There’s an agreement to say that even though he won, it was the most-damaging fight or the least-convincing victory [of his career].”
Gene Blevins/ZUMA WireLegacy
Andy Lee believes that GGG is running the risk of damaging his legacy:
“I would hate to see him lose to a lesser fighter, just because he continues to go on too long. I’m not sure what he needs to do. I’m sure his financial future is well-secured.
"His legacy is secured, but it would be tarnished if he continues too long and fights somebody who would never beat him at his best."
Lee hopes to see the fighter leave the ring for good.
"I’d love to see him go have a homecoming in Kazakhstan, have a big event there. Fight an easy fight and retire as a legend."
He warned, “It’s only going to end badly for him,” if he continues to fight top-level opponents in hope of securing one last shot at Canelo.
Alexander G. Seyum/Pacific Press via ZUMA WireGGG - fight of the year?
Andy Lee acknowledged that the fight was a spectacular display and that while it had technical faults the, “guts and determination and the heart” shown by both combatants made the clash a Fight of the Year contender:
"It was in stark contrast to the previous Golovkin, of before the Canelo fights. A lot of eyebrows were raised," he told Off The Ball, noting that the aging GGG faded from the fourth-round as Sergiy pushed him all the way.
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USAMore than age...
GGG now faces a number of challenges, Andy added that his split with longterm trainer Abel Sanchez has hurt the Kazakh.
He believes that his partnership with his current trainer Johnathon Banks represents a “marriage of convenience” and that his own experiences with Banks - who is a veteran of Detroit's Kronk gym where Andy started his pro-career - suggests that he's not a good fit for the middleweight.
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